David Beckham as born in Leytonstone, East London, the son of Edward "Ted" Beckham (a kitchen fitter) and Sandra West (a hairdresser). In his first autobiography My World, which was serialised in OK! Magazine, David was quoted as saying; "I've probably had more contact with Judaism than with any other religion." Beckham is Jewish on his maternal grandfather's side (presently, Beckham and his wife have embraced the mystic Jewish offshoot of Kabbalah, and both have also obtained matching tattoos from the Song of Songs that says, in Hebrew: â€œI am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me, who grazes sheep in rose-like pastures").

The Beckhams were fanatical Manchester United supporters, who would regularly travel to Old Trafford by coach and frequently went to away games. David was a strong cross-country runner who regularly finished first in his age group in the Essex cross-country championships, but he had inherited his parents' love of Manchester United and his main passion was football. He attended one of Bobby Charlton's soccer schools in Manchester and won the chance to take part in a training session at FC Barcelona in a talent competition.

He was Manchester United's mascot for a match against West Ham United F.C. in 1986. The young Beckham had trials with Leyton Orient F.C. and attended Tottenham Hotspur F.C.'s school of excellence, but once Manchester United offered him a place there was no doubting which club he would go to.

He signed schoolboy forms at United on his fourteenth birthday in 1989, then signed a Youth Training Scheme contract on 8 July 1991. He was part of an exceptionally talented group of young players at the club, including the future internationals Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and Gary Neville.

These players later helped the club to win the FA Youth Cup in May 1992, with Beckham scoring in the second leg of the final against Crystal Palace F.C. He had his first appearance for United's first team that year, as a substitute in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., and signed his first professional contract shortly afterwards. United reached the final of the Youth Cup again the following year, with Beckham playing in their defeat by Leeds United F.C., and he won another medal in 1994 when the club's reserve team won their league.

He went to Preston North End F.C. on loan in the 1994-95 season to get some first team experience, then made his first Premier League appearance for Manchester United on 2 April 1995, in a goalless draw against Leeds United F.C..